10-Day Forecast

Thursday

Nov 22, 2012 at 12:01 AM

The best bits of culture and flat-out fun the days ahead.

By Asher Brown-PinskyCorrespondent

Nov. 22-Jan. 5:Architectural art: The American Institute of Architects biannual “Celebrate Design” runs through Jan. 5 in the Thomas Center’s Mezzanine Gallery. The exhibition features projects from both AIA Gainesville and AIA Florida chapters.

Nov. 23:Latin-jazz great: Latin Jazz pianist Chucho Valdés performs with his quintet on Friday at University Auditorium. Valdés is the recipient of multiple Grammys, has performed at the Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall, and has released a catalog of 80-plus albums. Valdés, who was described as the “Dean of Latin Jazz” by The New York Times and who has collaborated with Chick Corea, Wynton Marsalis, Herbie Hancock and Carlos Santana, performs at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20-$30, $10 for UF students, available by calling 392-2787.

Nov. 23-Dec. 23:Holiday plays at the Hipp: The Hippodrome Theatre kicks off the Christmas season with two plays. “A Tuna Christmas,” which portrays the comical competition for the best Yuletide Lawn display in Tuna, Texas, returns starting Friday after a two-year hiatus, while Mary Hausch’s adaptation of Charles Dicken’s “A Christmas Carol,” a Gainesville tradition with Rusty Salling in his 23rd year as Ebenezer Scrooge, returns starting Saturday. Performances run through Dec. 23 for “A Tuna Christmas” and through Dec. 22 for “A Christmas Carol.” For tickets, call 375-4477.

Nov. 30-Jan. 6:Skating on the Plaza: Ice skating at the Bo Diddley Community Plaza returns starting Nov. 30 with the opening of the Plaza Ice Palace. For the first time in five years, skaters can enjoy the ice rink from 4 to 10 p.m. weekdays and from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends. Cost is $10 per person including skates, $7 for those who furnish their own skates.

Nov. 24:Boilin’ syrup, makin’ music: The Morningside Nature Center hosts its annual Cane Boil & Fiddle Fest on Saturday, featuring costumed demonstrators pressing sugar cane and boiling the juices into syrup. The Longleaf Pine Youth Fiddle Contest will feature contestants from 10 a.m. to noon followed by traditional music from such local musicians as Chuck Levy, Alan Stowell and Patchwork. Festival hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the center, 3540 E. University Ave. Admission is $3 for adults, $1 for ages 3-12 and free for children 2 and younger.

Nov. 24-25:Get crafty: The annual Craft Festival at the O’Connell Center returns with dozens of vendors featurings arts and crafts from around the area on Saturday and Sunday. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $4, $1 for UF students and free for children 13 and younger.

Nov. 25:‘Musicians of the Year’: The classical duo of David Finckel (cello) and Wu Han (piano), named Musical America’s 2012 Musicians of the Year, performs works by Debussy, Brahms, Beethoven and Shostakovich at 2 p.m. Sunday at University Auditorium. Tickets are $20-$30, $10 for UF students.

Nov. 25:17th St. Andrew’s Day Evansong: As part of the Music at Holy Trinity series, the Holy Trinity Epsicopal Church presents the 17th Annual St. Andrew’s Day Evansong and Kirkin’ o’ the Tartan on Sunday at 5 p.m. The performance by the Holy Trinity Choir and organist/music director John T. Lowe feature bagpipes and traditional Scottish song and dance. A reception is planned following the concert. Admission is free.

Nov. 27-28:Feel pretty: The national Broadway tour of “West Side Story,” the musical retelling of Romeo and Juliet scored by Steven Sondheim and Leonard Bernstein, takes the stage at the Phillips Center for two nights. Set against the street gang warfare in 1950s New York and punctuated by dynamic choreography, the play has delighted audiences for more than 50 years. Tickets are $30-$50, $15 for UF students.

Nov. 30:Christmas the cowboy way: The Western-swing ensemble Riders in the Sky returns for a performance of its holiday show, “Christmas the Cowboy Way,” on Nov. 30 at University Auditorium. The group blends wit and Western whimsy with country and western classics, Christmas standards and their own yuletide originals. Tickets are $20-30, $10 UF students.

Dec. 2:St. Augustine with Peter Rowan: The renowned bluegrass performer Peter Rowan joins Gatorbone, Todd Schaeffer of Railroad Earth and a bevy of St. Augustine musicians in a benefit concert produced by the Shakerag Culture Center at 67 Florida Ave. in St. Augustine. The performance, which will benefit local luthier Paul Berger, runs from 3 to 8 p.m. Admission is a suggested donation of $30. For tickets, call 373-5514 or see Shakeragculturecenter.org.

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